A HYBRID APPROACH FOR BLOCKCHAIN-BASED ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM TO IMPROVE IMPLEMENTATION

1M.Tech. Scholar,Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ganga Institute of Technology and Management, Kablana, Jhajjar, Haryana - 124104, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ganga Institute of Technology and Management, Kablana, Jhajjar,  Haryana - 124104, India

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.58257/IJPREMS42805

ABSTRACT

This study explores the development of a blended electronic voting system that integrates blockchain accountability with scalable cloud infrastructure to improve security, transparency, and accessibility in electoral processes. Existing voting systems face issues such as tampering, impersonation, and audit difficulties, while blockchain-based systems often suffer from high operational costs and limited feasibility in emerging economies. The proposed system leverages Firebase for secure user authentication and encrypted vote management while employing HTML, Bootstrap, JavaScript, and Chart.js for a clean, scalable, and intuitive user interface. Initial testing of the beta model demonstrates that the proposed hybrid system maintains vote integrity and delivers verifiable results with significantly lower performance costs than fully blockchain-based alternatives. The system ensures accessibility for a broad audience and retains transparency while reducing resource demands. Future enhancements include incorporating smart contracts on testnet blockchains for improved distribution and transitioning the frontend to Flutter to enhance usability and reach. This approach presents a practical and secure pathway for large-scale, verifiable electronic voting, addressing limitations of both traditional and blockchain-exclusive models while supporting mass-scale electoral use.

Keywords: Electronic Voting, Blockchain, Cloud Infrastructure, Firebase, Security, Scalability

1.  INTRODUCTION

Secure, transparent, and accessible voting systems are essential for maintaining democratic integrity. Traditional voting methods, while tangible and familiar, often face challenges like inefficiency, ballot tampering, and delayed results, whereas current electronic voting systems, though faster, introduce vulnerabilities related to cyber-attacks, lack of auditability, and privacy concerns. Blockchain technology has emerged as a promising solution due to its decentralized and immutable nature, offering verifiable and transparent processes for electronic voting. However, practical implementation of blockchain in large-scale elections encounters limitations such as high costs, scalability challenges, and infrastructural constraints, particularly in emerging economies. Current research in the field highlights the need for a system that ensures both security and usability while being accessible for diverse voter bases. This study identifies the need for a hybrid blockchain-based electronic voting system that addresses these challenges by combining the integrity and transparency offered by blockchain principles with the scalability and user-friendliness of modern cloud infrastructure. By leveraging platforms like Firebase for real-time, secure data management and incorporating blockchain-inspired mechanisms for data integrity, the proposed system aims to enhance the security, scalability, and accessibility of electronic voting. This chapter outlines the historical evolution of voting systems, the limitations of current methods, the emergence of blockchain in voting applications, and the rationale behind adopting a hybrid architecture for practical and secure electronic voting.

2. METHODOLOGY

A Hybrid Approach for Blockchain-Based Electronic Voting System to Improve Implementation has been adopted in this research to develop, test, and validate a practical electronic voting system. The methodology covers system architecture planning, selection and configuration of technology components, frontend and backend implementation workflows, security and privacy frameworks, and systematic testing under controlled and simulated election conditions to ensure reliability and usability.

2.1 System Architecture and Design
The system is structured with a hybrid architecture using blockchain for recording immutable vote transactions while leveraging Firebase for managing user authentication, session control, and real-time data processing. Flutter is utilized for developing a responsive frontend that functions seamlessly across mobile and web platforms, ensuring accessibility for voters. Chart.js is integrated to visualise live election data for both administrators and voters, enhancing transparency during the voting process. The architecture includes modules for voter registration, authentication, vote casting, result monitoring, and secure data logging (Figure 2.1).

2.2 Technology Stack Implementation
The system uses Flutter for its frontend due to its cross-platform consistency, enabling voters to register and vote with clear step-by-step guidance. Firebase Authentication is implemented to manage secure logins, while Firestore handles the storage of encrypted vote records before they are logged to the blockchain for permanence. Cloud Functions in Firebase are employed to handle business logic such as vote validation, duplicate prevention, and transaction processing, ensuring backend operations remain secure and efficient. The blockchain layer is used to maintain a tamper-resistant log of votes, providing an auditable trail while reducing the load on the primary database (Table 2.1).

2.3 Security and Privacy Measures
The system employs robust security practices, including end-to-end encryption for vote data during transfer and storage, strict Firebase security rules for database access, and blockchain integration to preserve vote integrity. Role-based access control ensures that only authorised voters can participate in the election, while the admin functions are protected with secure authentication methods (Figure 2.2). Privacy is prioritised by decoupling voter identities from vote records while maintaining traceability for audits. Smart contract integration ensures the automated handling of vote recording on the blockchain, reducing manual intervention and potential errors.

2.4 Frontend and Admin Panel Development
The frontend, developed using Flutter, provides a user-friendly interface that guides voters through registration, authentication, vote selection, and confirmation while providing real-time status updates. User interface components are designed for clarity and ease of navigation, reducing user errors during the voting process. The admin panel, accessible only to verified election administrators, allows control over election parameters such as starting and stopping voting sessions, monitoring voter participation, and viewing live vote tallies with graphical representations for transparency (Figure 2.3). The panel also provides audit logs for monitoring system activities and detecting anomalies (Figure 2.4).

2.5 Testing and Evaluation
The system underwent thorough testing to validate its functionality, security, and performance under simulated voting conditions. Unit testing was conducted for individual components, while integration testing ensured seamless workflows from voter registration to vote logging on the blockchain. Load testing with multiple concurrent users was carried out to assess system stability, response times, and scalability, ensuring the system can handle peak voting periods efficiently. Security testing included validation of data integrity, prevention of unauthorised access, and confirmation of one-person-one-vote enforcement. User feedback from peers and faculty during live demonstrations was incorporated to refine the system for improved usability and reliability.

3. MODELING AND ANALYSIS

This section details the modelling and analysis performed for A Hybrid Approach for Blockchain-Based Electronic Voting System to Improve Implementation. It covers architectural modelling, workflow validation, security assessment, data flow analysis, user interface evaluation, and scalability checks to ensure a clear understanding of system behaviour under varied conditions.

3.1 Architectural Modelling
The system's architecture was modelled to incorporate a hybrid structure using blockchain for immutable logging of votes and Firebase for real-time authentication and data management. Detailed diagrams were created to map the interactions between frontend, backend, and blockchain layers, ensuring each component’s role in vote handling was clearly defined and technically validated.

3.2 Workflow and Data Flow Analysis
A complete analysis of the workflow from voter registration to vote casting and result display was conducted. Data flow diagrams were prepared to trace data movement during authentication, vote encryption, submission, blockchain logging, and result visualisation, ensuring no bottlenecks or vulnerabilities in the data pathways.

3.3 Security and Privacy Modelling
 Security protocols were modelled, including the use of Firebase security rules, end-to-end data encryption, and smart contract integration for vote immutability on the blockchain. Privacy measures to decouple voter identities from votes were analysed and validated to maintain confidentiality without affecting verifiability.

3.4 User Interface and Usability Evaluation
 The frontend, built using Flutter, was evaluated for its ease of use, responsiveness, and accessibility across devices. User flows were modelled for login, voting, and confirmation screens, ensuring that voters could navigate the system with minimal instructions while reducing the chances of user errors during voting.

3.5 Performance and Load Handling Analysis
 Performance was analysed by simulating multiple concurrent users voting, checking system response under load, and monitoring real-time data updates using Firestore and Flutter streams. The system was evaluated for stability and responsiveness, confirming its readiness for small and medium-scale voting environments.

3.6 Blockchain Integration Analysis
 The blockchain layer was analysed for its role in maintaining vote integrity. Test transactions were conducted to verify hash logging, and smart contract workflows were checked for accuracy and stability on the testnet environment. This analysis confirmed that the blockchain integration complements Firebase by adding a verifiable audit layer without affecting system performance.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the results and discussion of the study on A Hybrid Approach for Blockchain-Based Electronic Voting System to Improve Implementation. Results are organised into clear subheadings for systematic understanding while aligning with the testing objectives and evaluation criteria of the system.

4.1 Functional Results
The system successfully enforced one-person-one-vote, with Firebase authentication and backend validation preventing duplicate voting (Figure 4.1). Voters were able to register, log in, and cast votes using the Flutter frontend, with a clear, user-friendly workflow confirmed through manual test cases. Admins could manage elections, monitor participation, and view live vote counts using the admin panel, ensuring full functional control throughout the voting process.

4.2 Real-Time Data and Visualisation
Using Chart.js and Flutter visual components, real-time result updates were displayed accurately during voting sessions. Voters received instant confirmation of vote submission, while administrators could view live turnout and candidate-wise vote distributions. The system provided a transparent voting experience, maintaining consistency across devices with minimal latency.

4.3 Performance and Load Testing
Load testing was performed with over 200 simulated users voting concurrently. The system maintained stable response times, with Flutter and Firestore handling real-time updates effectively. No significant delays were observed in vote casting or result updates, validating the system's readiness for institutional and community-level voting events.

4.4 Security and Integrity Verification
Backend Cloud Functions validated vote transactions while Firebase security rules restricted unauthorised access, maintaining system integrity. Vote hashes were logged on the blockchain testnet for audit trails (Figure 4.2), ensuring immutability and verifiability of recorded votes. Attempts to bypass the system through manual API calls were blocked, demonstrating effective enforcement of voting security measures.

Figure 4.3 : Tester’s view of whole system and flow of controls and data for verification

4.5 User Feedback and Observations
Feedback from faculty and peers highlighted the system's ease of use, transparency, and reliability during testing (Figure 4.3). Suggestions for further enhancements such as dark mode and CSV export of results were noted for future updates. The positive reception confirmed that the system aligns with the goals of providing a practical, secure, and accessible electronic voting platform for real-world applications.

5. CONCLUSION

This research explored the design and development of a hybrid electronic voting system that combines blockchain principles with modern web and mobile technologies to improve the security, transparency, and usability of electronic voting, particularly in developing regions.

Key contributions include a functional prototype leveraging Firebase for backend management while aligning with blockchain principles to maintain vote integrity without the cost and complexity of immediate full-chain deployment. The system is structured to allow future Ethereum smart contract integration for tamper-proof vote recording, ensuring the architecture can evolve into a fully decentralized framework as blockchain adoption and affordability improve.

The research also identified the importance of offline resilience and accessibility, proposing QR-based pre-authorized ballots for offline voting (Figure 5.1) and outlining the migration towards a cross-platform Flutter-based mobile application for broader reach. This ensures inclusivity for voters in areas with limited connectivity while maintaining the integrity of voting data.

Figure 5.1 : Offline Voting Fallback Flow

Performance validation was achieved through low-latency vote submission and reliable tallying in the web-based prototype, with future plans for comparative benchmarking against existing solutions. Additionally, the modular design of the system shows promise for a wide range of applications beyond traditional elections, including university voting, board elections, cooperative societies, and DAOs, reflecting its scalability potential.

In conclusion, electronic voting represents a crucial advancement in strengthening democratic processes. However, success depends on balancing technological sophistication with accessibility and trust. This project demonstrates a practical approach in that direction by combining web-native simplicity with blockchain-grade security while planning for offline and mobile enhancements. The work lays a meaningful foundation for scalable, secure, and user-friendly electronic voting systems, particularly suited for emerging economies and remote communities ready to embrace the next generation of voting solutions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The completion of this thesis was not solely my effort. Like most impactful contributions, it came to life through the mentorship, inspiration, and presence of many wonderful people, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who offered consistent support throughout.

At the forefront, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my mentor, Mr. Jitender Kumar, for giving me the opportunity to work towards my M.Tech under his guidance. His supervision, steadiness, and expertise have been core contributors in making this research achievable. Despite his demanding schedule, he was always there to guide me and address my queries, and such mentorship has been crucial to the evolution of this thesis. It has been a privilege to work with him, and I have gained extensive knowledge, not only academically, but also in dedication and precision in research.

I am also truly thankful to Prof. Aman Aggarwal, Director of Ganga Institute of Technology and Management, for ensuring that all the essential resources were available for my academic work. I sincerely acknowledge the cooperation extended by the technical staff, particularly in terms of lab access and software support, which made this work smoother.

Lastly, I present this work with reverence, and I thank the Higher Power for providing the endurance, intellectual clarity, and purpose that guided me along the way.

Thank you all for being part of this chapter of my life.

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